American diplomacy is turning a new page in its relations with international bodies. Gone is the Trump administration’s empty chair policy at the UN, which left the field open to authoritarian regimes.
The United States announced on Monday its intention to “get involved” again in the United Nations Human Rights Council. Even though the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden hardly has any illusions.
“We know that the Human Rights Council is a body full of flaws, which needs to reform its program, its composition, and its priorities, including the disproportionate attention it pays to Israel,” said Monday the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken.
But “to be able to address the Council’s shortcomings and ensure that it fulfills its mandate, the United States must be present at the table and use the full weight of our spearhead role in diplomacy ”, underlined the Secretary of State.
Also sweep in front of his door
The United States also promises to clean up their homes. The head of the State Department reiterated Joe Biden’s promise to end systemic racism. A response to the UN Human Rights Council, which criticized the violence, including police, against the African-American community.
Based in Geneva (Switzerland), the Council is made up of 47 Member States – some of which are regularly denounced for their human rights abuses – which are elected by the United Nations General Assembly.
In June 2018, the Trump administration loudly announced that it was leaving the Council, denouncing the “hypocrisy” of a body “serving its own interests, which makes human rights a subject of mockery”. This decision had shown a little more the distrust of Donald Trump towards multilateral organizations.
Newsletter Morning essentials
A tour of the news to start the day
The new administration of President Joe Biden had from its first day announced the return of the United States to the Paris Climate Agreements and to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Original article by : www.leparisien.fr
